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Morphology and behaviour of silver-stained chromatid cores in mitotic chromosomes analysed by whole mount electron microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

Jian Zhao ,
Shaobo Jin ,
Shui Hao  and
Ruiyang Chen
Jian Zhao
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, The People's Republic of China
Shaobo Jin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, The People's Republic of China
Shui Hao
Affiliation:
Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, The People's Republic of China
Ruiyang Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, The People's Republic of China
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Using silver staining and the whole mount electron microscopy technique of squashed chromosomes, we studied the substructural organization and behaviour of chromatid cores in mitotic chromosomes of spermatogonia of the grasshopper Oedaleus infernalis during mitosis. It was found that the formation of mitotic chromatid cores takes place during the transition from prophase to prometaphase. Each chromosome contains two compact chromatid cores which are surrounded by a halo of dispersed argyrophilic material emanating radially from the cores. In early metaphase the chromatid core usually appears as an extended, slender network running longitudinally through the entire length of the chromatid, while in late metaphase the core frequently has a spiral appearance. In addition, our results revealed the existence of interconnections between sister chromatid cores along their entire length, as a result of which sister chromatid cores appear as a single interconnected core network in mitotic metaphase chromosomes. At this stage the core occupies a lateral position in each chromatid. However, during the transition from metaphase to anaphase, the interconnections are gradually released to allow the individualization of sister chromatid cores and the segregation of chromosomes. The core comes to occupy a central position in each segregated chromatid. These findings demonstrate the presence of an intrinsic interconnected core network within metaphase chromosomes which could be involved in the maintenance and segregation of chromosomes during mitosis.

Type
Research Article
Information
Genetics Research , Volume 68 , Issue 1 , August 1996 , pp. 1 - 7
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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